"Don't Do It!!"

I put this page on here as a response to all the couples who are considering having their friend DJ their reception.  I DO NOT do this lightly.  I am NOT doing this so that you book with me, just book a professional.

I am not trying to be rude which is why I include below a recommendation from a past client who feels EXACTLY AS I DO. I'm also not doing this with an attitude.  This is my livelihood, my passion and I'm just trying to put food on the table and gas in the car here.

There's been a recent trend lately in the Wedding Community to have your friends perform certain duties at receptions.  This is a bad idea.

Now I know you're going to say, "But Rich if I let Adam do it, we get two extra days in Cabo." That's great but you know what?  Adam's an idiot, and that's a bad idea and I'll tell you why. If your friend Adam has at least 10 years experience, a full set of PROFESSIONAL equipment, and does it professionally and not just as a hobby, then awesome, let him do it.  If he doesn't, then don't let him anywhere near your reception with his Dell Vostro, home stereo speakers and a lava lamp for atmosphere.

I know you think that all this consists of is just some guy hitting the play button on CD player for 4 hours but it's more than that.

Just FYI there's four different professional trade associations for DJ's.  Mobile DJ's hold themselves to a higher level of integrity than a typical "bar DJ."   Among the many things that can go wrong at a reception include everything from extra people for intro's that the DJ has never seen to anything and everything else.  Do you realize that if ANY of these eventualities occur that it would probably be in poor taste to start a fight with your friend at your reception?  Could your friend handle that pressure not having done a reception?

I like the axiom that "The wedding is for you. The reception is for your friends." 

To further illustrate my point let me put it to you like this. 

Let's say it's your birthday and you go to your friend and say, "Hey guess what?  I had a chance at Kenny Chesney and Lady Antebellum tickets at Merriweather for my birthday and I was gonna get em, but then I saw my friends garage band was gonna be at Fat Daddy's, so I thought I'd pocket the $200 ticket difference and we'd go see my friend!  Are you cool with that?" 

Oh, you aren't cool with that?  Well your friend's band does Kenny Chesney covers, isn't that the same thing?  Your friends band has a USED sound system.  Isn't that cool?  Oh, it isn't?  You mean on your big day you'd rather be at a professional event with someone who knows what they're doing?  Can't say I blame ya. What I'm saying is, put the shoe on the other foot, the foot on the other hand, the glove on your head. 

Let's just say you work as a trade professional.  A plumber, an HVAC tech, an Accountant.  How would you feel if someone calls you up asks you every question in the book, meets with and then tells you he's gonna get his friend to install his radiant floor heating system instead?  Oh you aren't cool with that?

Let's say YOU get invited to a wedding.  It's your first time away from your screaming baby in forever.  You...take your suit to the cleaners.  You...take your wife's dress to the cleaners.  You...find a babysitter.  Pay them...a lot.  You...give up a Saturday of doing whatever the hell it is you want to do to go to a wedding.  Your friend rewards your effort with.....THE CHEAPEST ENTERTAINMENT AVAILABLE!

So if that doesn't make you want to book a professional, than by all means have Adam DJ your reception and I hope when Adam plays his "less than MP3 quality version" of Kenny Chesney's 'Ain't Back Yet,' I hope it really feels like Kenny is singing it just for you...

As for liability issues, say your your friend is the DJ and property damage happens during your reception. Who is responsible? The venue will contact your friend, because he was the DJ, to collect for damages. Guess who your friend will be calling next? That would be you, so he can collect payment from you to cover the damages.

Choose a pro.  I mean all the above tongue planted in cheek, but please take this to heart.  You get one chance at this and you don't want your wife in tears in your Honeymoon night.

Good choice..

Rich Berkheimer
Rockin' Out DJ Service, York, PA
717-881-2294 cell